The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1887-10-01
LeAr a. nsruaLIoAs nIsFoRY,

LbAF Ne AtE-i SH4tSA@ 4SfS-ffi
But the Republicans say that the Demoora-
CIV cannot be trusted to keep these pledges;
that theirs is the party in favor of free
BALLOT "a fair count" and correct returns,
and only by their restoration to power can
these blessings be enjoyed. Parties are tested
by the record of their past deeds, and history
has recorded how faithless to freedom of cleo.
tons, fairness of counting and correctness OF
returns the Republican party, as party, have
been, As early as 1864 Governor bradford,
the war Governor, In his message OF that year
denounced the method by which the eleouon
| of 1868 had been conducted. he said; IA
| few days before that election a military order
was issued from the army headquarters at
| Baltimore which in effect placed the polls
| under the surveillance and at the command OF
1 the military authorities" After reciting in
detail the outrages perpetrated by the SOL
diery at that election, he adds. "a part of
the army, which generous people had sup
Piled for very different purpose, was on that
day engaged in stiiling the freedom of cleo
tions in faithful State, intimidating its sworn
officers, violating the constitutional rights OF its
loyal citizens, and obstructing the usual chan
pels Of communication between them and
their exeeqtiye. In 1864, in order to hold
the State perpetually in their grasp, the Re
pubicans held constitutional convention
and devised scheme OF registration and dis
franchisement unknown to the history Of free
government. This system Of registration was
nut upon the people of this State by the Re-
publicans in that constitution of 1864. which
was adopted and forced upon us by the SOL
diers in the field by the bare majority of III
votes. There were but 80, ia votes for 1t,
including the soldiers, while there were 49,
100 votes against it, "a blank and so not
counted. This constitution required the Leg
islature to provide by law for uniform regis
tration of the names Of the voters in the
State. and then proceeded 10 disqualify at
least one half of the voters of Maryland.
Then followed the act of 1865, chapter ia,
carving out these constitutional provisions.
| And under these devices of law every man
who had the slightest sympathy with the people
, of the South was excluded from all participa-
ton in the affairs of his state, and put into a
i political bondage which would have been
hopeless bat for the subsequent Intervention
of Gov. Swami, in 1866. Under Gov. Swami S
more generous administration broader con-
, struction of the qualifications required for
voters was made by the officers Of registration,
and large body of those who had previously
been disfranchised were classed under the
voting population, and by a desperate struggle
. in 1856 the people of Maryland were emanci-
: pated from the political servitude under
a. which for years they had suffered. The re-
a sistance Of the Republicans to this act of JUS
/, tice to our people was SO great that they made
/, an Intellectual attempt to have soldiers sent by
{ the President 70 prevent its accomplishment.
( A constitutional convention followed, and a
new organic law was ordained by the people.
E For twenty years we have lived under it and
e enjoyed prosperity not surpassed in any
E similar period Of the States history. Zap
! plause.
VI THEIR CONSTITUTION RECORD.
I The constitution Of 1867 was made by some
! of the wisest men in the State, (among them
/ Judge Carmichael, Judge Alvey, Judge Geo,
/. VIM. Brown, George NJ. Gill, Judge q. W
/. Dobbin and host Of others,) repeating these
a | DISTINGUISHING clauses and restoring to the
whole voting population Of the State the